The most purely gifted passer in NFL history — whose quick release, vision and arm talent set records in 1984 that stood for two decades, despite never winning a Super Bowl.
Daniel Constantine Marino Jr. was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1961 and played college football at the University of Pittsburgh. The Miami Dolphins selected him 27th overall in the 1983 NFL Draft. His 17-season career with Miami produced 61,361 passing yards and 420 touchdowns — records at the time of his retirement in 2000. His 1984 season — 5,084 passing yards and 48 touchdowns — was so exceptional that both records stood for over two decades. His quick release — the fastest in NFL history according to many coaches and analysts — allowed him to get the ball away before pass rushers could reach him despite limited mobility. He was never sacked more than 25 times in a season. He reached the Super Bowl in his second season (1984) but lost to San Francisco and never returned. His career without a championship is the most debated in NFL history — critics argue his Dolphins teams underinvested in running backs and defence. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005, his first year of eligibility. He was named to nine Pro Bowls and was the NFL MVP in 1984.
Hall of Fame 2005
Career Honours
- Hall of Fame 2005
- Super Bowl XIX (runner-up)
- NFL MVP 1984
- Pro Bowl 9x
- All-Pro 3x
- NFL single-season passing yards record 1984 (5,084)
- NFL single-season TD record 1984 (48) — stood 20 years